2018 Schedule

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Designer

Friday, Sep 28
12:00pm — 1:30pm
Jake Jabs Center at CU Denver
330 attending

The Future of Immersive Design

Adopting many forms, immersive design is a constantly expanding, multi-billion dollar industry. Join renowned Colorado installation artist Lonnie Hanzon in a moderated panel exploring the impact of immersive art, design, and entertainment. Panelists include Denver creatives from throughout our rich immersive community, which spans puzzle rooms, haunted houses, experiential theatre, themed venues, and more. We’ll discuss what’s powerful about immersive as a storytelling tool and what this means for the near-future of the experience economy. #CUDenver #CUintheCity

Lonnie Hanzon’s career started in the performing arts and fashion design, but he was soon hired to create major public works of art, immersive entertainment projects, visual merchandising and fine art commissions. Over three decades, Lonnie has created several landmark public works of art, including “Evolution of the Ball”, a gateway sculpture at Coors Field baseball stadium in Denver. National works include Mazza Gallerie in Washington, D.C. and Neiman-Marcus Corporate Collection in Walnut Creek, California.

In his former role as Lead Show Producer for LucasArts Attractions, a division of LucasFilm, Hanzon worked on the re-development concept for 42nd Street and Times Square as well as entertainment projects in Hawaii, Japan, Houston and Hollywood. He was appointed Wizard in Residence at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Denver in 2008 where he designed Hudson Holiday, a 15-acre lighting spectacular presented at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center in 2009 and 2010.

Over the course of a rich and robust career, Lonnie has never let go of his belief that "form follows function, and those functions should include storytelling, meaning, and maybe even some magic."

Charlie Miller, Co-Curator, Off-Center @ The Jones

Charlie I. Miller is co-curator of Off-Center @ The Jones, the Denver Center Theatre Company's new initiative dedicated to experimenting with new theatrical forms and creating interactive theatrical experiences. He is also the resident projection designer for DCTC and has designed 10 productions in the past four seasons, including American Night, When Tang Met Laika, and The House of the Spirits, for which he received a Denver Post Ovation Award.

Vanessa Schatz, COO, The Hopper Boulder

Vanessa is an award-winning Communications Specialist and Strategist with 10+ years of international experience in private and public sector including Fortune 500 companies, government, higher education, non-profit organizations, and the film industry. She grew up in Munich, Germany, and discovered her passion for implementing positive change while taking down the Berlin Wall with a sledgehammer as a young child. She joins the rest of the team of the Hopper Boulder in designing the family gathering space of the future! After a year of research meeting with leaders in museum, tech innovation, and the creative industries across the US and Europe, the team behind the Hopper is slated to open their permanent space in 2020, co-housing STEAM learning activities, interactive installations, puzzles and games, and a seasonally inspired eatery.

Marilyn Dorn, puzzle room designer, Puzzah!

Marilyn Dorn was born in Washington, DC, and holds a BA in Anthropology and Communications from CU Boulder. While living and working as an ESL teacher in Southeast Asia, she first discovered escape rooms. A longtime enthusiast of interior design and immersive entertainment, Marilyn was instantly hooked. She got a job working as a game designer and English translator for The Escape Hunt Experience in Bangkok, Thailand. When she returned to the US, Marilyn knew she wanted to remain in the puzzle community. She was lucky to find Puzzah!, where she has honed her career as a puzzle and game designer.